Mid-South Memories: June 20

Robb Mitchell/The Commercial Appeal files
First female ordination
Barely 24 years old, Louise Gordon Upchurch, will become the first ordained woman minister in the Memphis Presbytery in ordination and installation ceremonies on June 20, 1976, at Idlewild Presbyterian Church. She received a master of divinity degree from Princeton Theological Seminary after earning her bachelor of arts degree in religion from Duke University.

June 20

25 years ago: 1988

Selina Hatcher was taking semester exams when the pains began. Her baby was coming. But the 17-year-old student had a geometry final to finish. The baby, she decided, could wait. A few hours later, she gave birth to Theodore. She got a B on the test. "I was determined to finish," she said. Miss Hatcher was one of 141 girls ages 13 to 20 served during the first year at Comprehensive Pupil Services Educational Center — the former Memphis Technical High School that now houses several social agencies, the city schools' Pupil Services Center, a school for students with behavior problems and a school for pregnant students. The program is designed to keep pregnant girls and new mothers in school by providing day care for some and support groups and individual attention to all. Teenagers are taught to care for themselves during their pregnancies and for their babies as they grow.

50 years ago: 1963

Thousands of fluorescent lights — 7,380 to be exact — were switched on at Memphis' new Federal Building last night, leaving little doubt that the 13.5-million-dollar glass and marble structure will soon dominate North Main. The glow from the 11-story building was so bright, in fact, that had workmen been available, construction could have continued in the neighboring excavation where the new City Hall soon will rise.

75 years ago: 1938

Fewer Memphians are going to Europe this summer than at any time since 1920. About 40 have applied for passports but only three plan to tour Hitler's Germany and none will venture into war-torn Spain with most preferring to visit England, France and Switzerland.

100 years ago: 1913

Semi-finals in the Overton Park Golf Tournament, to be played tomorrow, will pit L.B. Anderson against H.B. Potts and E.A. Wood against T.B. Hatchett. The finals will be played next week.

125 years ago: 1888

The Fire Department turned out last night in answer to an alarm from Lockwood's Stable, on Second south of Monroe. But there was no fire at the stable. However, Hose Carriages No. 1 and No. 3 broke down in answering the alarm, the former on Main and the latter at Union and Third, when the rear axles on the two pieces broke.